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Delhi police pick up over dozen persons

NEW DELHI: Even as normality returned to the Walled City area after two bomb explosions in the Jama Masjid complex on Friday, the Delhi police on Saturday picked up over a dozen people for questioning. However, no arrests have been made.

Amid tight security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed met the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in the evening to take stock of the situation. He also visited the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narain Hospital, where the injured were admitted. They have since been discharged.

Earlier in the day, Police Commissioner K.K. Paul went round the Walled City area to review the security arrangements.

Contradictory statements

Special Cell sleuths are probing the antecedents of at least two suspects, as they gave contradictory statements about their movements at the time of the blasts. The police have recorded the statements of some of the 14 injured persons.

With the help of eyewitnesses, the police are trying to reconstruct the sequence of events, which led to the explosions near the water tank right at the centre of the mosque. They have recovered portions of a battery from the blast sites.

Metal detectors have been installed at all entrances to the Jama Masjid and more police personnel deployed in the area. Those entering the mosque are being frisked and their belongings checked.